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E. S. MIX.

BELT BUCKLE.

APPLICATION mu) MAR. 30. 1922.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

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EDWIN S. MIX, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO HICKOK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BELT BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 11922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. Mix, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to belt buckles and more particularly to the type in which the buckle frame has a clamping surface with which a pivoted clamping member cooperates, an object of this invention being to provide a clamping member having thereon a continuous clamping surface which is adapted to cooperate with the clamping surface on the buckle frame for holding belts of different thicknesses. Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous clamping surface extending in the direction of the axis of turning of the clamping member and having portions disposed at different points about the axis of turning and located at different distances from the axis of turning so as to accommodate belts of diflerent thicknesses.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a belt buckle constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the belt buckle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3-is a fra mentary sectional View showing the clamping member shifted from clamping position;

Fig. 4: is a detail view showing the clamping surface on the clampin member; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the front plate which, in this instance, is provided with side flanges 2 having inwardly turned portions 3. Mounted on the buckle frame is a clamping member 4 which has preferably aloop 5 formed thereon for anchoring one end 6 of the belt. This clamping member is provided with a portion 7 of less width than the loop portion and, from opposite sides of this portion, bearing portions 7 extend which turn in sleeves 8 formed by rolling the extensions on the inwardly turned portions 3.

The clamping member carries a clamping surface in the form of a rib extending in the direction of the turning axis of the clamping member. This rib has end portions 9 and a central portion 10. The surface of this rib gradually inclines from the end portion to the central portion so that the central portion is located at a greater distance from the center of rotation of the clamping member than the end portions. It will also be noted that the rib has its central portion shifted or situated at a different point about the axis of the clamping member than the end portions. While one form of the rib is herein shown, it is apparent, however, that the invention is not limited to this form as any rib which would perform the functions of this rib is within the scope of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a pivoted clamping member with a continuous rib of substantially uniform width, the rib having its surface at one point situated nearer to the axis of rotation of the clamping member and gradually increasing in distance from said axis of rotation to a high point. Furthermore, this clamping surface gradually shifts about the axis of rotation of the clamping member from the low point to the high point, so that the low point will first be presented to the clamping surface on the buckle frame to engage a thick belt and, if the belt is too thin, then the clamping member will turn until a point is reached thereon which will effectively clamp the belt.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. A belt buckle comprising a buckle frame having a clamping surface thereon, and a pivoted clamping member having a rib for cooperation with the clamping surface on the buckle frame, said rib extending in the direction of the axis of rotation of the clamping member and having a surface which gradually increases its distance from the axis of rotation of the clamping member and also gradually shifts about said axis of rotation.

ofrotati onof the clamping rnelnber for 00- operation: With the clamping SuPfa'ce-Onth'e buckle frame said rib having the clamping surface of the end portions nearer to its axis 10 of rotation of the clamping member and gradually increasing its distance from the aXis of rotation toward" the central portion, said rib also shifting gradually from said end portions to the central saida-Xis'of ro'tat'ioni EDWIN s. MIX.

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